No wonder Ken Laurence received very little screen time on the Season 12 debut of “Project Runway.” More flamboyant contestants and sewing-room drama dominated the proceedings on Thursday’s episode, upstaging the Birmingham designer on his first go-round.

Here’s the good news: Laurence, 24, made it through the unconventional challenge, creating a sleek, sophisticated dress from parachute fabric. His tangerine-and-orange outfit pleased the judges on the Lifetime reality series, although viewers had only a quick glimpse of it during the runway show.

Despite his apprehensions -- and the stress of scrapping his original design for a do-over -- Laurence was declared safe, along with other competitors in the middle of the pack. He moves on to the next challenge, and will sew again on the July 25 episode. ("Project Runway" airs on Thursdays at 8 p.m. CST.)

It's still too early to predict how Laurence will fare on the series, with 15 designers still in the running. But he's made a decent start. Also, Laurence was profiled during a preview episode for Season 12, "Road to the Runway," that aired at 7 p.m. It revealed his taste, tenacity and rugged past.

"I was homeless four times," Laurence said, "and it just pushed me to survival mode."

With emotional grit on his side -- not to mention a vote of confidence from Mondo Guerra, the 2012 champ of "Project Runway All Stars" -- Laurence declared himself ready to triumph on "Project Runway."

"I have been secretly competing for the past 11 years," he said. "I know I can win."

The last designer standing on "Project Runway" will receive a prize package worth about $500,000, according to Heidi Klum, who serves as judge, host and executive producer for the show. Already, Laurence appears to have substantial fan support, earning nearly 600 "Likes" on his "Project Runway" profile.